At this level, we think it is in general a question of mood and opportunity : There are many places in this category. But if I write this, it is because the ugliest ones hide themselves inside the best. So :  No Risk taking, just try to stay in our list …

The first one which comes in mind is ” Clos de Gustave “in Gordes. This is absolutely a sure value ( and in Gordes it is very rare). Food is more than good, service is made with candor and intelligence. Be careful, it can be crowdy. So the best is to be early. We don’t tell you how  it is charming etc …

The second we are in love with is “Un Jour Charlotte” , just 300 meters from here. How lucky we were when thay started their business last year. It is just a kind of “succes story”, a family business. The father is a reputed photographer, she is a florist and together with the children they make a superb food. Last year, we had only compliments. I leave the details. You will see and appreciate by ourselves.

“La Bergerie ” in Maubec is different. Maubec Old Village is one of the most exquisite  corner of Luberon. Nobody knows. You are in a peaceful environment, just below the Luberon Mountainside. It is very typical, the house team  is energetic and you get excellent meat, pizzas and local food.

In Isle sur la Sorgue, there are many good and not as good ones. It is a bit out of our scope… Let’s mention Bistro du Commerce where you have an experience on the French Southern Style (noisy but ougoing). Good meat and pizzas. The problem of Isle sur la Sorgue is maybe its success, you will understand.

In the countryside, we can list several with excellent values :

- Café de la  Gare in Bonnieux (cheap and warmful)

- Café de la Poste in Goult. That one, if you  are interested in being in a well behaved tourist tour, it is the place. 50% of the guests are US, British or from Belgium. So very international but in the french atmosphere. Its fame came from the Peter Mayle’s Popular Novel ” A Year in Provence”. It is worthwhile and food is OK for the price.

We are talking about places where you can go without “eating your budget”, so not cheap but reasonable for what you have. Second, there is a “dress code” and you can be  “at your best”. Third, they are in general close from your house here.  Last, please secure proper booking with us. If you don’t, it can become unpleasant.

We start just on the other side of the street :” L’Estellan”. It is just perfect in many respects and so you are certain  to spend a nice moment. The only thing is that their sense of marketing makes they just have much too many candidates ! Food is excellent and the young nicely dressed ladies are … I dont find the proper word.

A little bit further on the hill, you have Mas Tourteron. It is one of the most traditional top addresses in Gordes. But sometimes, your reputation makes you to be to sure. Anyway, we have in general good feed-backs and the garden is exceptional. It is less than I kilometer from here.

But for me the two best in this category are  probably

- La Bartavelle in Goult. There are no adjectives to describe. It is a small place and you should book well lin advance, maybe to get there early, to walk a bit in the village to the castle and to impregnate yourselves of a very special  situation.

- Le Café Fleurs in L’Isle-sur-la Sorgue. This one has superb food, almost “Grande Cuisine”, at reasonable prices. It is just along the river in the middle of town. Try top be seaed on one of the two terraces which are small but gorgeous.

Also :

- Le Fournil in Bonnieux. We don’t know by ourselves very well. People who get there come back with an excellent souvenir. Food is known as being excellent.

- Le Vieux Bistrot in Cabrières d’Avignon. Also very good. The terrace is very peaceful.

- Maison Gouin in Coustellet. A house for “people who know”!  You select your wine direct in the cellar. They also have a gourmet food store. It is casual but wealthy people of the area like to be treated without excessive sophistication. So it is a kind of secret address.

If you look on the potential list (the Michelin high-stared restaurants), there are a few you can forget while  a few other shine really.

You are not going to stay a long time . So we have retained two of them which are out of the crowd.

Bastide de Capelongue in Bonnieux is the best in the area – Two Stars at Michelin, max is 3 – It is just 35 minutes from us. So there you get the best possible. If you want to impress somebody or just you like top food (and you can afford it), it is the place. For me it is too much of a ceremonial and becomes maybe too much central in your trip. This  place is really an excellent one to catch the French Superior Touch in Gourmet Food, that’s it.

The other one is Mas des Herbes Blanches in Joucas. There you have an outstanding scenery, top-class environment and superb food. It is a mere 20 minutes from here.

You will love this area between, let’s say Maubec and Bonnieux. Last Spring I went direct to Oppede (don’t be confused : Almost all villages in Luberon have a more modern neighbor with the same name. The reason is the villages originally were on the hills to have a natural protection with walls etc… As the risk decreased, people started to live in the valley. So there are 2 Maubecs, 2 Oppede and so on.

The begining of the tour is at Maubec, the old village. You must absolutely go first to the camping ( first turnabout at Robion and left). There you have  a scenery with two “campaniles” in a very quiet environment. You will see a superb estate and when you are in front of the campanile you look back at the mountain. You go down, you will see “La Bergerie ” one of our favorite restaurants on the left, and then you follow the Bike Road (special signs). Far away, you will see the Oppede Castle and the chapelle. From there, you take one of the small roads and you get to park in Oppede. There is no alternative. You pay but you are right where you have to be? And the park area looks secure. So then you visit 1- The Sainte Ceceile gardens and you go uphill to the Chapelle. This is very worhwile and you have a very good view.

After that, you go down through a hamlet named Les Minguets. There is a small store on the left ” Les Atrtisanales de Provence”. They sell in particular exquisite jams and other local products. Then YOU TRY TO GET LOST … in the direction of Menerbes. And you will make a lot of discoveries. If you follow my map anyway, you will arrive in Menerbes with the best view. Normally, you won’t have  enough time to visit Menerbes which is a bit rude. Best is to go to Abbaye St Hilaire and Lacoste without wasting too  much time. Abbaye Saint Hilaire is real rewarding. They explain you well the story. In Lacoste it is important to find the way to go just behind the castle. There is the best view and often Pierre  Cardin is displaying modern scultures. You will see Bonnieux in front of you. Bonnieux is an austere place and if you have little time don’t try to visit. As it is a 2-level village you can get exhausted very fast. And it is mostly North-oriented so in the shade, and cold.

All small roads below Lacoste are very good. In fact during this trip, you will meet very few tourists ! They all are in Gordes or Roussillon. All this tour can take 2-4 hours, depending on the stops. If you do it in the morning, what we recommend because of the light, you must have a reservation for a restaurant for a quick lunch. Good options would be Café de la Poste in Goult or Caf&é de la Gare in Bonnieux (it is not exactly in Bonnieux but onthe road to D900, almost in fronty of the Cave Vinicole de Bonnieux).

An interesting spot near-by is the Pont Romain (Roman Bridge)..

In the afternoon, a good idea is to head to Roussillon.  In fact there is also several lunch possibilities over there. One is Les Glycines right in the center. You have a very nice terrace and a view on the ochres.

The Angels Bedroom, with its white Organza curtains will carry you “till the seventh heaven”. Bedroom equiped with a large double bed (Queen Size), wardrobe, desk, book shelves. Independant bathroom with luxury accessories, shower, italian marble decoration. All floors are in old oak or  tiled. Beamed whitened ceilings. Small separate garden.

Grande chambre  de 25m2 blanche, claire, rideaux en organdi blanc. Boutis blancs. On y palpe le souffle des anges … Les amoureux, les romantiques adorent cette chambre digne d’une nuit de noces. Vaste salle de bain avec douche-pluie, toilettes et baignoire de 1,80 m, marbres italiens,  etc …

Grand lit double de 160 X 200 tout à fait moelleux, placard, bureau, bibliothèque.
Vaste salle de bain avec douche-pluie, toilettes et baignoire de 1,80 m,   etc …. Marbre italien. Tous les sols sont en terre cuite. Climatisation agréable par le sol. Petite terrasse particulière avec table et chaises.

La Chambre des Anges (de kamer van de
Engelen), met zijn gordijnen in witte organza
en zijn luchtdecoratie, brengt u in de zevende
hemel.

De kamer is uitgerust met een groot dubbel bed, muurkast, bureel, boekenkast.

Een aparte badkamer met lavabo, douche,

bad en w.c. Italiaanse marmer. Alle vloeren zijn in natuursteen en de luchttemperatuur wordt via de vloer geregeld.

Dubbele deur naar de private tuin.

Das Engelzimmer mit seinen weissen
Organza Vorhängen und seiner luftigen Dekoration führt Sie direkt in
den „siebten Himmel”.

Zwei Öffnungen zum Garten,ein grosses Doppelbett, Schrank,Schreibtisch, Bibliothek ,eigenes Badezimmer mit
Regenschauer-Dusche, Badewanne und Toilette, Italienischer Marmor und Fussboden mit Fliese aus  gebranntem Ton.
Kleines separates Garten.

Du Pain sur la Planche in

aaa

Mas des Andeols is in St Saturnin, something like 10 miles east from Gordes. The road is charming, especially in the evening. You should remember than the more you drive east, more it gets genuine and natural. So if you have time St Saturnin is a delightful place among many !

The best is to drive very slow in “downtown”  ( nice old houses with decorated doors)  of the past and maybe to go up to the church in the mountain. It is just full of surprises as you get into walls from Crusade Times  and you are like in a movie. This is for the impressions. More info on your guide.

Back to Mas des Andeols : It is an incredible place you can’t believe. Maybe it is a bit artificial, it ’s too much in the same time. You will appreciate by yourselves. Just know that it is a common place for the “jet set”" but you are welcome there. Besides the top modern decoration outfits of the houses (you don’t see), the restaurant is a special treat. It is one of the famous “Auberges Alain Ducasse” and it is just good luck to be there. For people who don’t know, Alain Ducasse is one the smartest “Cuisinier” in the World. So he makes excellent food, at good prices. The secret is, I think, that on top of his talents, he has a lot of leadership and sense of organization which goes to every detail.

This is the explanation for the out of norms dinner you will  have there.

So, not too bad for a celebration. And it is our 1st recommendation. Of course, your “tenue” has too be smart, but not with excess : It is an “Auberge “.